Somewhere In Time

"It's like this feeling when somebody says something about you and you can't defend yourself.
It's totally unfair."
-Sophie
IN TREATMENT, TV series

Twenty-five years ago today

May 23, 1986
Friday

It is Friday and it was nice to leave the office at 1PM. It's my last day for a good week.  I need the break.

At 1PM I left The City and went to mom and dad's house. I took my two year old niece, Ashley, with me to the Ice-Cream Dock. I met Steve Green there while he was on his lunch break from TRANSBOX (his workplace is on Doolittle Drive, near the Oakland Airport). Steve was feeling a little down and out about territorial sales and his current job. He had a vanilla shake and left the scene. Ashley and I remained at the Ice-Cream Dock as we enjoyed eating cookies n' cream ice-cream.

I took Ashley to my pad and we blew balloons together for my Birthday Party. I never get tired of hearing Ashley say, "Bahh-Woon."

Ashley and I went for a walk in the courtyard. It was fun running around and playing with her. She's a sweetie. Her mom (Sherri) came over a little after five o'clock to pick her up. Steve Green had returned to my place after work but he was upstairs (in my bedroom) taking a nap.

When Sherri left I went upstairs and woke Steve from his nap. We decided to go over to Ric Green's house to barbecue some shrimp or prawns. We stopped at SAFEWAY to buy all of the ingredients.

The other Rick (from the gym) telephoned.
"Hey Mike, I feel like going out tonight."
I jotted down on a notepad for Steve about Rick's wishes.
Steve nudged me and wrote 'Invite him to Ric's house'.
"Well, my friend Steve and I are going to a barbecue. Do you want to meet us there?"
"Sure!"

While at Ric's place I was playing with his computer. I typed this page:

My name is Michael J Armijo and I am here tonight at Ric Green's house.  I have been here before but I didn't get to see CALIGULA the last time I was here.  I don't really have to see it tonight but from what I've heard about the flick--its one movie that one cannot miss.  Steve Green (not Ric's brother by any means) is always over rating the movie.  So, I'll just have to judge for myself.  I think this word processor is pretty nifty.  I can write everything I want right away.  Ric is observing me at the moment but just think what I can write when he's not around!  Ah shucks—there's not really a whole lot that I could write that I wouldn't mind Ric reading.  I don't have much to hide; however, I could tell a few stories or two.  I wonder what Steve Green is up to?  He's so "rush rush rush" at times.  It gets me going at times.  I still don't think that was very nice of him to pop a number of my balloons today—Not to mention the fact that he yelled "don't pull your pants down" while I was on the telephone with Mike Miller (a good friend of mine since I was about 14 years old).  I wonder what Mike Miller may have thought when he heard Steve say that.  Uh oh…something just happened…Ric is inserting the "CALIGULA" videocassette.  I wonder if that means I should be getting excited since it is an X-rated movie.  Ric's a nice fellow.  I'm glad I met him.  Oh, I shouldn't have written that.  Now if he reads this he'll know I find him nice but he should know that already anyway.  The CALIGULA movie is on now.  I see Malcolm McDowell lying next to an almost naked girl in the wilderness.  It looks good so far.  They're chasing each other here and there through the greenery and about the trees.  It's getting a bit sensual as they hug each other and kiss passionately.  I can see her ass.  Oh, it's only the beginning…CALIGULA has begun a narration stating that he is God which brings to mind the definition of my name-Michael: He who is like a God.  That is what it says in the Webster's Unabashed…look it up if you don't believe me.  The movie is on and I want to get into it.  So I will watch it now.  The couple is now rolling around a bed of sheets in a Roman-like setting.  I just saw a number of naked men working out in some field.  I'm glad this movie has some sort of plot and not just sex sex sex…

I want a personal computer now. They're so darn convenient! We watched CALIGULA. Steve got all hyper and left the room.
Steve shouted, "You're an ASSHOLE!"
He shouted this because I wasn't being all 'touchy' with him during the movie. He doesn't understand that I don't feel comfortable showing affection with other folk around. Steve simply left the room and didn't return until the end of the second film (SOMEWHERE IN TIME). Rick, Ric and I were watching that one. It's such a classic.


When SOMEWHERE IN TIME ended I decided to go home. I could swear I heard the melody of that tune during my drive home.


"I find the world very confusing and chaotic."
-MARY AND MAX,
2009 Australian film